Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Aantal verkeersdoden in 2025 fors gedaald, jonge weggebruikers grootste risicogroep

    Aantal verkeersdoden in 2025 fors gedaald, jonge weggebruikers grootste risicogroep

    Suriname has witnessed a significant reduction in traffic-related fatalities during 2025, with official statistics revealing a 22% decrease compared to the previous year. According to data released by Purcy Landveld, Deputy Director of the Traffic Safety Institute (VVI), the nation recorded 61 traffic deaths versus 78 in 2024.

    Despite this positive trend, road safety remains a critical concern, particularly for vulnerable commuters. Motorcyclists continue to represent the highest-risk demographic, accounting for 19 of the total fatalities. Other casualties included 12 car drivers, 1 bus operator, 3 truck drivers, 6 passengers, 13 pedestrians, 1 cyclist, 4 motorcyclists, 1 ATV rider, and 1 tractor operator.

    A disturbing pattern emerged in age distribution, with economically active adults between 21 and 40 years bearing the brunt of fatalities. The 21-30 age group suffered 16 deaths, while 31-40 year-olds accounted for 15 fatalities. Eight young people aged 11-20 also lost their lives in traffic incidents.

    Geographical shifts in accident hotspots were noted, with Wanica district reporting the highest fatalities (20), followed by Paramaribo (12) and Para (8). This represents a notable change from 2024, when Paramaribo led with 28 deaths.

    The healthcare system continues to shoulder substantial burden from traffic accidents, with the Academic Hospital Paramaribo’s emergency department treating 3,491 traffic victims—averaging 8-9 daily cases. This constant influx strains medical resources, elongates waiting times, and diverts significant healthcare budgets from other critical needs.

    In response to 39 fatalities occurring in the first half of 2025, authorities implemented stringent traffic measures including enhanced police surveillance, stricter speed and alcohol controls, and targeted awareness campaigns. These interventions yielded dramatic results, with only 8 deaths recorded in the second half—particularly remarkable during traditionally high-risk holiday periods.

    The VVI emphasizes that sustained enforcement combined with improved infrastructure, specialized education for young riders and drivers, and continuous data analysis are essential for maintaining this progress toward safer roads.

  • A quarter of Cuba’s inhabitants are over 60 years old

    A quarter of Cuba’s inhabitants are over 60 years old

    Cuba is experiencing a profound demographic transformation, establishing itself as one of the world’s most rapidly aging societies. Recent data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) reveals that the Caribbean nation now demonstrates higher aging rates than several European countries traditionally associated with elderly populations, including Italy (24.1%), Bulgaria (23.8%), Finland (23.4%), Greece (23.3%), and Croatia (23.0%).

    The report, titled “Population Aging, Cuba and its Territories 2024,” employs a comprehensive methodology that calculates the effective population. This approach incorporates all individuals born within the country during a calendar year, plus permanent residents who have accumulated 180 days or more of stay in Cuba within the past 365 days, excluding those who have died.

    Significant regional disparities exist across the island. Villa Clara province in central Cuba records the highest aging rate at 29.1 percent, followed closely by the capital Havana at 28.1 percent. In contrast, Guantánamo province in eastern Cuba maintains the lowest rate at 22.5 percent.

    At the municipal level, Plaza de la Revolución in Havana emerges as the area with the oldest demographic profile at 36.8 percent, while Yateras in Guantánamo province maintains the youngest population structure at 17.1 percent.

    A particularly telling metric reveals the scale of Cuba’s demographic inversion: the ratio of population aged 60 and over to those under 15 reached 1,625 older adults for every 1,000 children and young people aged 0-14 by the end of 2024. This ratio has increased by 247 points compared to the previous year, highlighting the accelerating pace of Cuba’s population aging.

  • Billboard Thefts Raise Safety Concerns Across Antigua and Barbuda

    Billboard Thefts Raise Safety Concerns Across Antigua and Barbuda

    A concerning pattern of structural vandalism targeting commercial billboards has emerged across Antigua and Barbuda, triggering alarms over public safety risks along major transportation routes. The most recent incident occurred along the strategically important Queen Elizabeth Highway, where critical supporting braces were forcibly removed from an Antigua.news advertising structure.

    Multiple billboard sites have subsequently been found with identical damage, indicating coordinated theft rather than isolated acts. These specialized metal components serve as fundamental stabilization mechanisms for large-scale outdoor advertising installations, engineered specifically to withstand severe weather conditions including tropical storms and high-velocity winds.

    Their deliberate removal creates substantial hazards for all highway users, with compromised structures potentially collapsing onto roadways, endangering motorists, pedestrians and adjacent properties. Billboard operators are confronting unplanned financial burdens as they implement emergency safety protocols including comprehensive structural assessments, immediate repairs and preventive dismantling of vulnerable installations.

    Industry sources suggest the stolen structural elements are likely being diverted to unauthorized construction projects, representing a secondary illegal market. The situation has escalated to warrant official governmental attention, with law enforcement expected to intensify monitoring of advertising infrastructure. Citizens are being urged to report any suspicious activities near billboard locations to prevent potential tragedies.

  • Lawyer questions legality of NIS pension starting years after retirement

    Lawyer questions legality of NIS pension starting years after retirement

    A significant constitutional debate has emerged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines regarding the National Insurance Services (NIS) pension system, with prominent lawyer Jomo Thomas challenging the legality of mandatory waiting periods for retirees. The controversy centers on reforms implemented in June 2024 that have extended pension waiting periods to up to three years, with projections reaching five years by 2027 when the pensionable age increases to 65.

    Thomas, a respected social commentator and activist, confronted NIS Executive Director Stewart Haynes during a media appearance commemorating the agency’s 39th anniversary. “I always wondered about the constitutionality of this NIS plan, where people retire at 60 and you pay them five or six years later. That has to be legally questionable,” Thomas asserted, highlighting what he perceives as a violation of constitutional property rights protected under Section 6 of the nation’s constitution.

    The NIS reforms include a gradual contribution rate increase from 10% to 15% through 2026. Retirees seeking early access to their pensions face severe financial penalties, forfeiting 6% for each year before reaching official retirement age. Haynes defended the system, explaining that pensionable age differs from retirement age and emphasizing that the NIS operates as a statutory entity guided by specific legislation that evolves according to demographic and economic realities.

    Haynes, an actuary, framed the NIS as an intergenerational compact similar to a ‘sue-sue hand’—a traditional collective savings arrangement. “Every month that I contribute, that money is used to pay my mother. When my daughter enters the workforce and I reach retirement, her contribution will pay me,” Haynes illustrated, stressing the importance of intergenerational equity and system sustainability.

    Thomas countered with comparative analysis of the U.S. Social Security system, where delayed collection results in increased benefits rather than penalties. “In St. Vincent, the converse is true. I’m leaving my money there, and I’m not getting anything more on it, but if I try to get it earlier, I’m penalised. That can’t be right,” the lawyer argued, suggesting the current system might invite legal challenge.

    The exchange highlights growing tensions between social security sustainability requirements and fundamental citizen rights, setting the stage for potential constitutional litigation that could reshape the nation’s retirement security landscape.

  • Late Sunday Night Motorcycle RTA Claims Police Officer’s Life

    Late Sunday Night Motorcycle RTA Claims Police Officer’s Life

    The Belize law enforcement community is in mourning following the tragic death of Police Constable Edwardo Cus in a fatal motorcycle collision Sunday evening. The incident occurred approximately at 8:00 p.m. along the Philip Goldson Highway in Belize City, according to official reports.

    Preliminary investigations indicate that Constable Cus was operating his motorcycle when the accident transpired, resulting in him being violently ejected from the vehicle. The impact caused catastrophic injuries that proved immediately life-threatening. Disturbing video evidence from the accident scene depicts the officer lying motionless on the roadway awaiting emergency assistance.

    First responders arrived promptly at the location and administered critical medical intervention before transporting the gravely injured officer to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Despite exhaustive resuscitation efforts by medical personnel, Constable Cus was subsequently pronounced deceased.

    The Belize Police Department has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding the collision. Traffic reconstruction specialists are currently examining all potential contributing factors, including road conditions, vehicle mechanics, and environmental elements that may have played a role in the tragic outcome.

    This incident marks another sobering reminder of the inherent dangers faced by law enforcement personnel both on and off duty. The department has announced plans to honor Constable Cus’s service and provide counseling resources for affected colleagues during this period of profound loss.

  • Law Reform Commission invites public submissions by February 16

    Law Reform Commission invites public submissions by February 16

    The Barbados Law Reform Commission has initiated a nationwide public consultation campaign, calling upon citizens, civil society organizations, and professional associations to contribute written proposals for the comprehensive reform of the country’s legal framework. The consultation period remains open until February 16, 2026, with submissions limited to 1,500 words.

    Commission Chairman Sir David Simmons emphasized the critical importance of public participation in ensuring the nation’s laws remain relevant and responsive to contemporary societal needs. “Our legal framework must be recast in a form that is both intelligible and accessible while aligning with modern requirements,” stated Sir David. He further highlighted that public consultation represents a fundamental component of the law reform process, enabling Barbadians to contribute their expertise, experiences, and observations regarding the current state of legislation.

    While initial contributions must be submitted in written format, the Commission clarified that this would not preclude subsequent oral discussions with authors once submissions undergo preliminary review. This two-tier approach ensures thorough consideration of all proposals while maintaining an open dialogue with contributors.

    Submissions may be delivered electronically to lawreform@barbados.gov.bb or in physical format to the Commission’s offices at the Henry Forde and David Simmons Legal and Judicial Complex on Coleridge Street in Bridgetown.

    The Commission, operating under the Office of the Attorney General, derives its mandate from the Law Revision and Law Reform Act of 2019-6. Its statutory responsibilities include the systematic review, modernization, and simplification of Barbados’ legal corpus to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in addressing contemporary challenges.

  • Pastor Stanford Simon announces early retirement from St George’s Baptist Church

    Pastor Stanford Simon announces early retirement from St George’s Baptist Church

    St. George’s Baptist Church (SGBC) has officially confirmed the forthcoming retirement of its Senior Pastor, Reverend Stanford Simon, effective March 31, 2026. This significant leadership transition concludes more than twenty years of devoted ministerial service to both the congregation and the broader Grenadian community.

    The Church Council and SGBC membership have formally accepted Reverend Simon’s retirement decision, which follows an extensive period of spiritual contemplation and deliberation regarding the church’s future direction. The church’s foundational vision of “building communities” remained central to these considerations.

    In a reflective statement, Reverend Simon explained his decision-making process: “Having served this local church for over two decades, I recognized the necessity for a carefully planned leadership transition. More than ten years ago, I began prayerfully considering succession planning but did not then feel the appropriate leadership was positioned to assume pastoral responsibilities. I now discern that God has prepared the necessary personnel to ensure a seamless and faithful transition within the pastorate.”

    Concurrently with his SGBC pastoral retirement, Reverend Simon will step down from his additional leadership roles as President of the Grenada Baptist Association (GBA) and Communications Officer of the Conference of Churches in Grenada (CCG), effective the same date.

    SGBC leadership has proactively established a Pastoral Transition Committee chaired by Mrs. Matonia Munroe, a member of the Church’s Pastoral Team, who will serve as official spokesperson throughout the transition process. This committee will ensure organizational continuity and stability during this period of change.

    The church community expressed profound gratitude for Reverend Simon’s decades of spiritual guidance, dedicated service, and significant contributions to both the local congregation and Grenada’s wider Christian community.

  • Jolyan Silvera murder trial remains private

    Jolyan Silvera murder trial remains private

    The high-profile murder trial of former Jamaican opposition party parliamentarian Jolyan Silvera will commence on February 2nd under strict privacy provisions that will exclude both media and public from proceedings. Silvera faces charges for the 2023 firearm-related murder of his wife, Melissa Silvera, with the case falling under specialized Gun Court jurisdiction that mandates in-camera hearings.

    Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, presiding over the case, clarified that while he personally doesn’t object to journalistic presence, the final decision rests with legal representatives from both sides. “If the lawyers agree, then we can come to some accommodation,” Justice Sykes stated during Monday’s proceedings, “but for the time being it is what it is.”

    The privacy measures derive from Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of Jamaica’s Gun Court Act of 1974, which permits exclusion of the public and restricts trial reporting in interests of public safety and order. These provisions have governed firearm-related cases for five decades, allowing only court personnel, legal representatives, and specifically authorized individuals to attend proceedings.

    The case involves grim details surrounding the November 2023 death of Melissa Silvera, initially reported as natural causes until autopsy revealed three bullet fragments inside the body of the 42-year-old chemical engineering graduate and petroleum company CEO. The mother of four boys—one deceased before her—was found dead in the couple’s Stony Hill residence.

    Silvera, appearing noticeably slimmer and well-groomed in tailored clothing during Monday’s hearing, has been in custody since his January 2024 arrest. The former People’s National Party representative is defended by attorneys Peter Champagnie King’s Counsel and Patrice Riley, while prosecutors Dwayne Green and Latoya Bernard represent the state.

    Jamaica’s Gun Court operates through three specialized divisions: the High Court Division for most firearm offenses (judge-only trials), Circuit Court Division for serious crimes like murder with firearms (jury trials), and Resident Magistrate’s Division for preliminary inquiries—all typically conducted privately.

  • JCF announces leadership changes

    JCF announces leadership changes

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant organizational restructuring, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) high command has executed comprehensive reassignments affecting numerous senior officers across multiple divisions and specialized units. The strategic realignment involves several Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and Superintendents, marking one of the most substantial command changes in recent times.

    Under the new deployment structure, ACP Christopher Phillips, previously Commander of the Area Five Division, has been transferred to lead the Area Three Division. His former position will be filled by ACP Howard Chambers, who relinquishes his role overseeing specialized operations. Simultaneously, ACP Calvin Allen, the outgoing Area Three Division commander, assumes responsibility for specialized operations.

    Further changes see ACP Gary McKenzie transitioning from his leadership role at the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) to take charge of the strategic operations portfolio. Superintendent Micheal Campbell, formerly Commanding Officer for the St Thomas Division, will now head the PSTEB.

    The reshuffle extends to divisional leadership with Superintendent Rohan Ritchie, previously in command of the Kingston Central Division, taking over the St Thomas Division. Superintendent Mishka Forbes moves from strategic operations to assume control of the Kingston Central Division.

    Additionally, the reorganization affects sixteen Deputy Superintendents and one Assistant Superintendent, who have been transferred to various sections and formations within the force. These strategic reassignments are scheduled to take effect on January 21, representing a comprehensive repositioning of leadership assets within Jamaica’s law enforcement infrastructure.

  • TruFun Play opens in Drax Hall, expanding family recreation in St Ann

    TruFun Play opens in Drax Hall, expanding family recreation in St Ann

    ST ANN, Jamaica — A transformative family recreation venture has emerged in Drax Hall with the inaugural launch of TruFun Play, establishing a pioneering indoor play facility that addresses longstanding developmental needs for children in the Ocho Rios region. This strategically designed center represents a significant advancement in community infrastructure, providing structured recreational programming previously unavailable in St Ann’s family service landscape.

    Spearheaded by Kimona Myrie, an entrepreneurial mother who relocated from Lucea four years ago, the facility embodies a dual commitment to family welfare and business innovation. Myrie’s personal journey inspired the venture, which originated from her frustration with inadequate play spaces for her daughter and other children throughout parish communities.

    TruFun Play’s operational framework serves children aged 1-14 through a meticulously curated environment prioritizing safety, supervision, and developmental enrichment. The facility accommodates up to 80 children hourly across multiple activity zones featuring ball pits, trampolines, slides, and obstacle courses. Beyond recreational offerings, the center provides nutritional services, birthday celebration hosting, and educational programs including Saturday enrichment classes in self-defense, karate, and cultural arts.

    The business model integrates comprehensive after-school care alongside recreational services, creating a holistic approach to child development. Myrie’s substantial personal investment encompassed equipment procurement, safety system implementation, and staff training, supplemented by support from family networks, church communities, and early vision advocates.

    This enterprise transcends conventional business parameters by embedding community partnership and local entrepreneurship within its operational DNA. By positioning children and families at the core of community development, TruFun Play establishes a paradigm for socially conscious business investment in Jamaica’s parish infrastructure, demonstrating how recreational facilities can catalyze broader regional development while meeting critical childhood needs.